NBA Draft 2016: Unheralded Prospects with Pro Potential
Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Position: Power Forward
Age: 23 (10/20/1992)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’10”, 236 pounds, 6’11.5″
Slash Line: .482/.426/.878
Season Averages: 33.9 MPG, 22.3 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 1.9 ORPG, 1.4 APG, 0.8 BPG, 2.5 3PM
Kyle Wiltjer is not your traditional NBA Draft prospect. He’s a hybrid forward who will turn 24 years old before the start of his rookie season, and plays for a school, Gonzaga, that has been inconsistent in its ability to produce pro-level players.
Under the current climate of the NBA, however, Wiltjer could be a valuable player.
The 23-year-old stands at 6’10” and 236 pounds with a near 7’0″ wingspan, thus giving him adequate size for a 4. He’s also an elite shooter with deep 3-point range and the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack.
Wiltjer’s developing post game provides further reason to believe in his ability to be an offensive weapon.
The stretch 4 is at an all-time high in importance, and Wiltjer has the tools to contribute in a fashion similar to a Ryan Anderson or a Channing Frye. He’s a big player with gorgeous shooting form, deep range, and the ability to operate from the mid-post.
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Wiltjer may not be a conventional prospect, but he could have a fruitful NBA career in the proper system.